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G. F. GREENWOOD.

EXPANDED METAL RAILROAD 0R TRACK.

' 7 APPLICATION man NOV.5. 19m. 1,308,177. Patented July 1, 1919.

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HWMM M M WW i WITNESS A TTORNE K5 GUYON F. GREENWOOD, OF GEORGEVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA.

EXPANDED-METAL- RAILROAD OB, TRACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed November 5, 1918. Serial No. 261,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GUYoN F. GREENWOOD, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Georgeville, Province of Quebec,

Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanded- Metal Railroads or Tracks, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

The need in rural districts for permanent economical roads is of vital importance at all times, but the matter of secondary transport is especially important throughout the country today. There is a clear need for a road of low cost and maintenance having flexibility which is suflicient to carry wheel loads of from one to one and one-half tons per wheel and which can be rapidly and easily laid down. Steel is the only available material suitable for the production of such a road, and the purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a steel structure that will meet the foregoing require ments.

To this end I have produced an expanded metal railroad or track in which the rails, cross ties and bracing flanges are made in integral structural sections.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

F lgure 1 1s a plan View of a strlp of sheet steel having indicated upon it the necessary slitting or lancing to form the integral rails,- cross tics, flanges and strengthening lugs of a railroad section embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a completed railroad section; i

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail transverse sectional views showing possible modifications oi the form of the rails.

The improved railroad or track is formed "by the well known method of expanding sheet metal, the specific form of such expanded metal process being immaterial to the present invention.

In Fig. 1 an elongated sheet or strip of sheet steel is indicated at S. This strip is formed at intervals with zones of overlapping longitudinal slits shown at s, outlined by the transverse slits t, which may extend perpendicularly across the length of the strip S, but which are preferably inclined slightly to the perpendicular as shown, to form reticulated sections of metal which, be-

. after explained.

fore expansion, are broadest in the central longitudinal axis for the purpose herein- The slit zones oi the shoot S are longitudinally "spaced or separated by solid metal portions T, whichfare divided centrally by the longitudinal slits r. The body of the solid portions T may also be formed with angular slits u to form strengthening flanges hereinafter referred to.

' The side edges R of the strip S are designed to be bentup to form the rails. These edges may be formed with slightly thickened portions inthe rolling )rocess to form rails of the shape shown in iig. 5, or strips of extra width may be employed by doubling the outer zones upon themselves to form double thickness rail sections as shown in Figs. 4: and 6.

lVhen the strip of sheet metal has been properly slit as just explained, the side rail portions are pulled outwardly by some suitable metal expanding process to form integral reticulated cross ties or sleepers shown at C in Figs. 2 and 3. These cross ties are expanded slightly more in the middle than toward the sides with the result that the wide central portions of the slit zones are drawn to the same width as the side portions of the cross ties.

The rails R are bent upwardly at w from the main plane of the expanded web, solid metal flange portions 0 being left at the base of the rails r connecting with the reticulated cross ties and forming substantial inner supporting flanges.

The solid metal portions T are bent outwardly beneath the rails R as shown at Figs. 2 and 3 to form outwardly projecting base flanges and the angular portions 1 formed by the slits a are bent upwardly to engage with the outer faces of the upright Webs of the rails R to produce a more rigid support for the rails and prevent any outward spreading tendency.

The specific form of the railroad or track made of integral structural sections designed to be quickly laid and connected up to form a continuous track is immaterial to the present. invention which comprises an integral expanded metal structure, including the rails and supporting cross ties.

' The road sections can be cheaply manufactured and transported to the place of installation.

The improved expanded metal track can be cheaply and quickly laid in sections of convenient length Without the necessity for expensive grading and ballasting since the flexibility offsets slight irregularities with out interfering with sufiicient rigidity to support the relatively light loads that are to be carried. The road sections are conneeted up When laid by any suitable means.

A railroad constructed as described furnishes a Working steel surface to carry an agricultural tractor or motor car adapted for rail use and thus greatly increases the capacity of the road, the tractor and the driver. The cost of such a railroad made for example of expanded one-quarter inch sheet steel Will be much less than any other type of road and Will have traction advantages not possessed by other kinds Transport over such a road can be obtained at a cost of about three cents per ton mile as contrasted with the present cost over roads now in use of ten cents per ton mile.

I claim:

1. An integral expanded metal railroad section including rails and cross tics.

2. A railroad or track comprising rails, connecting ties and supporting flanges formed of an integral piece of expanded sheet metal.

3. A railroad or track comprising rails, cross ties and supporting flanges formed of a single integral piece of sheet metal, the cross ties being of reticulated expanded form.

4. A railroad or track comprising rails, cross ties and supporting flanges in the plane of the ties at right angles to the rails, all formed of an integral piece 01 sheet metal, said flanges having integral lugs or tongues bent upwardly into engagement With the rail Webs.

GUYON F. GREENXVOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

